Imaging device, display device, control method, and method for controlling area change

ABSTRACT

An imaging device includes an imaging unit that receives light coming from a subject and thus generates electronic image data; a display unit that displays an image corresponding to the image data; an angle-of-view setting unit that an angle of view to be changed for the image displayed by the display unit according to a first signal input from the outside; and a control unit that starts control of change to a predetermined angle of view set by the angle-of-view setting unit according to a second signal different from the first signal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromJapanese Patent Application No. 2010-085488, filed on Apr. 1, 2010, theentire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an imaging device, a display device, acontrol method, and a method for controlling area change, which receivelight coming from a subject and thus generate electronic image data.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, digital single-lens reflex cameras have beenincreasingly widely used. Because the lens unit of a digital single-lensreflex camera is replaceable when required, a user can capture imagessuitable for various scenes.

A technology is disclosed in which, while a micro computer in a lensunit controls a zoom operation for varying the angle of view inaccordance with the rotation of a lens operation zoom ring, a microcomputer in the camera body can control a zoom operation in accordancewith the operation of a zoom switch (see, Japanese Laid-open PatentPublication No. 10-010405). In this technology, a zoom operation inaccordance with the rotation of the zoom ring is performed as a priorityover a zoom operation according to an operation of the zoom switch.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An imaging device according to an aspect of the present inventionincludes an imaging unit that receives light coming from a subject andthus generates electronic image data; a display unit that displays animage corresponding to the image data; an angle-of-view setting unitthat an angle of view to be changed for the image displayed by thedisplay unit according to a first signal input from the outside; and acontrol unit that starts control of change to a predetermined angle ofview set by the angle-of-view setting unit according to a second signaldifferent from the first signal.

An imaging device according to another aspect of the present inventionis capable of changing a combination of a lens unit and a body, andincludes an imaging unit that is provided on the body and generateselectronic image data from a subject image received through the lensunit; a display unit that is provided on the body and displays an imagecorresponding to the image data; a touch panel that is provided on thedisplay unit; and a control unit that starts control of change of anangle of view to an area specified on the touch panel according to asecond signal different from an input through the touch panel.

A display device according to still another aspect of the presentinvention includes a display unit that displays an image; anangle-of-view setting unit that sets an angle of view corresponding toan area to be enlarged for an image displayed by the display unitaccording to a first signal that is input from the outside; and acontrol unit that starts control of enlargement to the angle of view setby the angle-of-view setting unit according to a second signal differentfrom the first signal.

A control method according to still another aspect of the presentinvention includes generating electronic image data by receiving lightcoming from a subject; displaying an image corresponding to the imagedata; setting an angle of view to be changed for the displayed imageaccording to a first signal that is input from the outside; and startingcontrol of change to the set angle of view according to a second signaldifferent from the first signal.

A method for controlling area change according to still another aspectof the present invention includes starting control of changing an imageto be displayed on a screen provided with a touch panel to an image onan area specified by a first signal input by multiple touch performed onthe touch panel, according to a second signal different from the firstsignal.

The above and other features, advantages and technical and industrialsignificance of this invention will be better understood by reading thefollowing detailed description of presently preferred embodiments of theinvention, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a diagram of a configuration of an imaging device according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a configuration of the front side of theimaging device according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a configuration of the back side of theimaging device according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an overview of processes of the imaging deviceaccording to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an overview of a zoom control process that isperformed by the imaging device according to the embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a user setting an angle of view in thezoom control process;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the points touched by fingers of theright hand of the user in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8A shows an area of an angle of view that is set by anangle-of-view setting unit in accordance with the touched points in FIG.7;

FIG. 8B shows the zoom limit on a display unit;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an overview of the zoom control process that isperformed, in accordance with the set angle of view, by the imagingdevice according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an overview of an optical zoom processperformed by the image capturing apparatus according to the embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a graph of an example of a variation pattern of the zoomposition in the optical zoom process;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of an overview of the electronic zoom processperformed by the imaging device according to the embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating how the image display varies in theelectronic zoom process;

FIG. 14 is a diagram of another method of setting an angle of view;

FIG. 15 is a diagram of an area of an angle of view that is set by theangle-of-view setting unit using the setting method in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a diagram of another configuration example of a lensoperation unit; and

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a problem of a conventional imagingdevice.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Modes for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter,“embodiments”) will be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a configuration of an imaging device according toan embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view ofa configuration of a side, facing a subject (the front side), of theimaging device according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective viewof a configuration of a side, facing a user (back side), of the imagingdevice according to the embodiment. An imaging device 1 in FIG. 1 is adigital single-lens reflex camera that includes a body unit 2 and a lensunit 3 that is detachable from the body unit 2.

The body unit 2 includes an imaging unit 21, an operation input unit 22,a display unit 23, a touch panel 24, a body communication unit 25, aclock 26, a storage unit 27, and a controller 28.

The imaging unit 21 acquires electronic image data by receiving lightcoming from a subject. Specifically, the imaging unit 21 includes animaging element, such as a charged coupled device (CCD), that receiveslight focused by the lens unit 3 and then converts the light toelectronic signals; and a signal processing circuit that performs signalprocessing, such as amplifying, on analog signals output from theimaging element and then generates digital image data by performing A/Dconversion.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the operation input unit 22 includes a powerswitch 221, a release switch 222 for inputting a release signal givingan image capturing instruction to the imaging device 1, a zoom switch223 for performing zoom operations of the lens unit 3, and a settingswitch 224 for performing various settings of the imaging device 1.

The display unit 23 is realized using a display panel consisting of, forexample, liquid crystals or organic electro luminescence (EL) material.The display unit 23 properly displays, in addition to image data,operation information of the imaging device 1 and information on imagecapturing.

The touch panel 24 is provided on the display screen of the display unit23 (see FIG. 3). The touch panel 24 detects, on the basis of informationdisplayed on the display unit 23, the point touched by the user andaccepts an input of an operation signal according to the touched point.In general, as touch panels, there are resistive touch displays,capacitive touch displays, and optical touch displays. In theembodiment, any touch displays can be used.

The body communication unit 25 is a communication interface forcommunicating with the lens unit 3 attached to the body unit 2.

The storage unit 27 is realized using a semiconductor memory, such as aflash memory or a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), that is securelyprovided in the imaging device 1. The storage unit 27 stores image dataand stores information, such as the zoom speed, in accordance with thetype of the lens unit 3 that is attachable to the body unit 2. While thestorage unit 27 records information in a computer-readable recordingmedium, such as a memory card, inserted from the outside, the recordingmedium may have a function as a recording medium interface that readsinformation recorded in the recording medium.

The controller 28 performs predetermined signal processing on thedigital signals, which are output from the imaging unit 21, and controlsoperations of the body unit 2. The controller 28 is realized using, forexample, a central processing unit (CPU). The controller 28 includes aface detector 281 that detects the face of a subject contained in acaptured image; an angle-of-view setting unit 282 that sets an angle ofview, to which the angle of view should be changed, in accordance withan input of the touch panel 24; and a moving-image compressor 283 thatcompresses moving data captured by the imaging unit 21.

The body unit 2 may have an audio I/O function and a communicationfunction so as to be communicable via the Internet.

The lens unit 3 includes a zoom lens 31, a lens drive unit 32, aposition determination unit 33, a lens operation unit 34, a lenscommunication unit 35, and a lens controller 36. The zoom lens 31consists of a group of lenses and has a function of varying the angle ofview. The position determination unit 33 determines the zoom position ofthe zoom lens 31. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the lens operation unit 34is a zoom ring provided around the lens barrel of the lens unit 3. Thelens operation unit 34 receives a signal (second signal) for startingchange control of angle of view as well as a signal (third signal) foroperating the zoom lens 31. Although it is not illustrated in FIG. 2,the lens unit 3 includes an aperture for adjusting the amount ofincident light focused by the zoom lens 31.

Processes that are performed by the imaging device 1 having theabove-described configuration will be described next. FIG. 4 is aflowchart of an overview of processes performed by the imaging device 1.As represented in FIG. 4, when the power of the imaging device 1 is on(YES at step S1), if the imaging device 1 is set to a moving imagecapturing mode in which data of multiple images is sequentiallygenerated at certain small intervals (YES at step S2), the controller 28causes the display unit 2:3 to display through-the-lens images (stepS3). At step S1, when the power of the imaging device 1 is not on (NO atstep S1), the imaging device 1 ends the processing.

After step S3, when the release switch 222 is pressed down and thus aninstruction signal for starting image capturing is input (YES at stepS4), the controller 28 controls the start of image capturing by theimaging unit 21 (step S5). When an instruction signal for starting imagecapturing is not input (NO at step S4), the imaging device 1 goes tostep S6, which will be described below.

At step S6, the position determination unit 33 of the lens unit 3determines the position of the zoom lens 31 under the control of thelens controller 36 and transmits the result of the determination to thebody unit 2 via the lens communication unit 35.

The controller 28 receives the result of the determination on theposition of the zoom lens 31, which is transmitted from the lens unit 3via the body communication unit 25, and determines whether the zoom lens31 is performing a zoom operation according to the positiondetermination result (step S7). When the result of the determinationindicates that the zoom lens 31 is not performing a zoom operation (NOat step S7), the controller 28 performs zoom control (step S8). The zoomcontrol will be described in detail below.

When the determination result at step S7 indicates that the zoom lens 31is performing a zoom operation (YES at step 87), the controller 28 makesa determination about an operation of the lens unit 3 and body unit 2(step S9). Specifically, the controller 28 determines whether there aresignals input by the operation input unit 22 of the body unit 2 and thelens operation unit 34 of the lens unit 3. Whether there is a signalinput by the lens operation unit 34 is determined depending on whetherthere is an operation signal that is transmitted from the lenscontroller 36 via the lens communication unit 35.

When the result of the operation determination by the controller 28indicates that the lens operation unit 34 has input an operation signalfor canceling a zoom operation (YES at step S10), the controller 28transmits a signal for stopping a zoom operation of the zoom lens 31 tothe lens unit 3 via the body communication unit 25. The lens unit 3 thathas received the zoom operation stop signal from the body unit 2 stopsthe zoom operation by ceasing to drive the lens drive unit 32 under thecontrol of the lens controller 36 (step S11).

When the result of the operation determination by the controller 28 atstep S9 indicates that the lens operation unit 34 has not input anoperation signal for canceling a zoom operation (NO at step S10) and theoperation input unit 22 inputs an operation signal for canceling a zoomoperation (YES at step S12), the imaging device 1 goes to step S11.

When the result of the operation determination by the controller 28 atstep S9 indicates that neither the lens operation unit 34 nor theoperation input unit 22 has input any operation signal for canceling azoom operation (NO at step S10 and NO at step S12), the imaging device 1goes to step S8, which will be described below.

After step S8 or step S11, when the imaging device 1 is capturing animage and an image capturing end operation is input (YES at step S13),if the zoom lens 31 is operating a zoom operation (YES at step S14), thecontroller 28 controls the stopping of the zoom operation (step S15).Thereafter, the controller 28 controls the ending of the image capturingoperation by the imaging unit 21 (step S16). At step S14, when the zoomlens 31 is not operating a zoom operation (NO ate step S14), the imagingdevice 1 goes to step S16.

Subsequent to step S16, the controller 28 performs processing, such ascompression, on data of a series of images in the moving imagecompressor 283, and records the data of the series of images in thestorage unit 27 (step S17). After step S17, the imaging device 1 goesback to step S1.

At step S13, when the imaging device 1 is capturing an image and animage capturing end operation is not input (NO at step S13), the imagingdevice 1 goes back to step S1.

A case will be described next in which the imaging device 1 is set to astill image capturing mode (NO at step S2 and YES at step S18). In thiscase, the controller 28 causes the display unit 23 to displaythrough-the-lens images (step S19). Thereafter, when the release switch222 is pressed down and thus an instruction signal for starting imagecapturing is input (YES at step S20), the controller 28 controls theimage capturing (step S21). The controller 28 then records the generatedimage data in the storage unit 27 (step S22) and goes back to step Sl.At step S20, when an instruction signal for starting image capturing isnot input (NO at step S20), the imaging device 1 goes back to step S1.

A case will be described next in which the imaging device 1 is set to aplay mode (NO at step S2, NO at step S18, and YES at step S23). In thiscase, the controller 28 reads a predetermined image from the storageunit 27 and causes the display unit 23 to play and display the image(step S24). The image displayed first here is, for example, the latestimage. Thereafter, when the operation input unit 22 inputs a changeinstruction signal for instructing changing of the image (YES at stepS25), the controller 28 reads a specified other image from the storageunit 27 and causes the display unit 23 to display the read other image(step S26). At step S25, when a change instruction signal is not input(NO at step S25), if the operation input unit 22 inputs an instructionsignal for ending the play (YES at step S27), the imaging device 1 goesback to step Sl. At step S27, when the operation input unit 22 does notinput an instruction signal for ending the play (NO at step S27), theimaging device 1 goes back to step S25. If the imaging device 1 is notset to the play mode (NO at step S23), the imaging device 1 goes back tostep S21.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an overview of a zoom control process at stepS8 in FIG. 4. First, a case will be described in which the lensoperation unit 34 does not input a zoom operation signal into the lensunit 3 (NO at step S31) and the operation input unit 22 does not input azoom operation signal into the body unit 2 (NO at step S32). In thiscase, when an external object touches the touch panel 24 in two pointsand thus touch inputs are made (YES at step S33), the angle-of-viewsetting unit 282 sets an angle of view, to which the angle of viewshould be changed, by a zoom operation using the two points in which thetouch inputs are made (step S34). After step S34, the imaging device 1goes back to the main routine. At step S33, when an external object doesnot touch the touch panel 24 in two points and thus no touch input ismade (NO at step S33), the imaging device 1 goes back to the mainroutine.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a user setting an angle of view in thezoom control process. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the pointstouched by the fingers of the right hand of the user in FIG. 6. Withoutperforming a zoom operation, the user specifies the diagonally oppositepoints of an area to be zoomed in by touching two fingers (the thumb andforefinger in FIG. 6) of the right hand on the touch panel 24.

FIG. 8A is a diagram schematically illustrating an angle of view that isset by the angle-of-view setting unit 282 according to the pointstouched by the user's two fingers in FIG. 7. As illustrated in FIG. 8A,the angle-of-view setting unit 282 sets an angle of view (area 0) suchthat the angle of view contains touched areas PI and P2 touched by thetwo fingers, such that the touched areas PI and P2 are positioned nearthe diagonal line, and such that the aspect ratio of the angle of viewequals the aspect ratio of the display unit 23. It should be noted thatthe optical zoom and the electronic zoom each have a zoom limit.Accordingly, in some cases, the angle-of-view setting unit 282 cannotset the angle of view according to the points touched by the user's twofingers. In this case, an area D′ indicating the zoom limit may bedisplayed on the display unit 23 as shown in FIG. 8B. In FIG. 8B, thedisplay unit 23 displays touched areas PI and P2 as well as the area D′.However, the touched areas PI and P2 are not necessarily displayed onthe display unit 23 when the area D′ is displayed.

A case will be described next in which there is no lens unit zoomoperation (NO at step S31) and there is a body unit zoom operation (YESat step S32). In this case, the controller 28 controls the zoom inaccordance with an operation of the zoom switch 223 and transmits acontrol signal to the lens unit 3 (step S35). In the lens unit 3, inaccordance with the control signal received from the body unit 2, thelens controller 36 drives the lens drive unit 32 so that the drive thezoom lens 31 is driven. Thereafter, the controller 28 obtains the resultof the zoom of the zoom lens 31 by receiving a signal representing thezoom result from the lens unit 3 (step S36). The zoom result containsthe result of the determination by the position determination unit 33 ofthe position of the zoom lens 31.

A case will be described next in which there is a lens unit zoomoperation (YES at step S31). In this case, when an angle of view forzoom has not been set yet (NO at step S37), in accordance with a zoomsignal that is input by the lens operation unit 34, the lens controller36 drives the lens drive unit 32 to control the zoom of the zoom lens 31(step S38). Thereafter, the imaging device 1 goes to step S36. The lensunit zoom operation at step S31 is performed in a way that, asillustrated in FIG. 6, the user rotates the lens operation unit 34 withthe user's left hand. Thus, in this case, the user can have an operationfeeling similar to that of a mechanical zoom operation. Furthermore,even when the user holds the imaging device 1 to which the lens unit 2having a large replaceable lens is attached, the user can easily performan operation quickly and intuitively while supporting something such asthe replaceable lens. Accordingly, the user can determine an angle ofview without hesitation and perform effective zoom control at the user'sintentional timing.

A case will be described next in which there is a lens unit zoomoperation (YES at step S31) and the angle of view for zoom has beenalready set by the angle-of-view setting unit 282 (YES at step S37). Inthis case, the controller 28 performs zoom control according to the setangle of view (step S39). The process at step S39 will be described indetail below with reference to FIGS. 9 to 13.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an overview of the process at step S39. When anangle of view is set such that it contains the optical axis (YES at stepS41), the controller 28 performs zoom control through an optical zoom(step S42). On the other hand, when the set angle of view is not setsuch that it contains the optical axis (NO at step S41), the controller28 performs zoom control using an electronic zoom (step S43). After stepS42 or step S43, the imaging device 1 goes to step S36 in FIG. 5. InFIG. 9, the type of zoom is changed depending on whether the angle ofview to be set contains the optical axis. The optical zoom causesoperating noise at zooming because it is mechanical operation. Forexample, the electronic zoom is preferable to the optical zoom in thesituation where moving images of music concert are captured without theoperating noise at zooming. In this regard, the imaging device 1 mayhave a function of capturing an image using only the electronic zoom. Onthe other hand, the electronic zoom may cause low quality of image witha large ratio of magnification. In this regard, the imaging device 1 mayhave a function of changing the electronic zoom to the optical zoom whenthe ratio of magnification of the electronic zoom is larger than apredetermined threshold.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an overview of the optical zoom process atstep S42. First, the controller 28 determines the lens type of the lensunit 3 in accordance with the information transmitted from the lens unit3 (step S51). The information received by the controller 28 is, forexample, information unique to the lens unit 3 (identificationinformation).

When the imaging device 1 is capturing an image (YES at step S52), thecontroller 28 sets a variation pattern of the zoom position to a patternfor optical zoom image capturing (step S54). The controller 28 thenperforms zoom control according to the set variation pattern of the zoomposition (step S55). Accordingly, the optical zoom process ends.

At step S52, when the imaging device 1 is not capturing an image (NO atstep S52), the controller 28 sets the variation pattern of the zoomposition to a pattern for optical zoom image non-capturing (step S53)and goes to step S55.

FIG. 11 is a graph of an example of the variation pattern of the zoomposition in the optical zoom process. In FIG. 11, while the curved lineL1 corresponds to the pattern for optical zoom image capturing, thestraight line L2 corresponds to the pattern for optical zoom imagenon-capturing. The image non-capturing corresponds to the state wherethe imaging device 1 is set to the capturing mode before the instructionsignal for starting image capturing is input and after the instructionsignal for ending image capturing is input. As is clear from FIG. 11,the time t₁ (time of arrival) until the zoom position reaches a targetposition for image capturing is longer than the time of arrival t₂ forimage non-capturing. For example, t₁ can be three seconds and t₂ can beone second. In addition, while the zoom speed is constant to the targetposition for image non-capturing (the straight line L2), the zoom speeddecreases as the zoom position becomes close to the target position forimage capturing (the curved line L1). Accordingly, while the targetposition can be reached relatively quickly for image non-capturing (forexample, before image capturing) so that the perfect shot is not missed,images near the target position can be captured for a relatively longtime for image capturing in consideration of the viewability of theprocess to reach the target position more slowly than for the imagenon-capturing. This enables the user to enjoy the zoom process when theimages are played and allows for image capturing with reducing eyestrain.

In this manner, by performing a process to zoom to an angle of view,which is specified by the user's fingers, moving images can be capturedwithout capturing scenes from the image 102 to the image 103 and back tothe image 102 in FIG. 17.

The times of arrival t₁ and t₂ may be set according to the type of thelens unit 3 or set to each time by the user. The variation patterns donot need to be curved or straight lines like those in FIG. 11. Forexample, the variation pattern for image capturing may be in a straightline and the variation pattern for image non-capturing may be in acurved line. If the imaging device 1 zooms in to the target position andthen returns to the original angle of view by zooming out, an axispassing through the time at which the target position is reached andorthogonal to the time axis may be set as an axis of symmetry and thezoom position may be symmetrically varied chronologically. For example,for image non-capturing, while the zoom position may be variedchronologically along the straight line L2 before it reaches the targetposition and, after reaching the target position, the zoom position maybe varied chronologically along a straight line having a gradient equalto that of the straight line L2 but with a different sign.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of an overview of the electronic zoom process atstep S43. As illustrated in FIG. 12, when the imaging device 1 iscapturing an image (YES at step S61), the controller 28 sets thevariation pattern of the zoom position to a pattern for electronic zoomimage capturing (step S62). The controller 28 then performs zoom controlin accordance with the variation pattern of the set zoom position (stepS64). Accordingly, the electronic zoom process ends.

At step S61, when the imaging device 1 is not capturing an image (NO atstep S61), the controller 28 sets the variation pattern of the zoomposition to a pattern for electronic zoom image non-capturing (step S63)and then goes to step S64.

The variation patterns of the zoom position for image capturing andimage non-capturing are similar to variation patterns of the zoomposition for image capturing and image non-capturing with optical zoom(see FIG. 11). Obviously, the time of arrival to the target position ineach variation pattern varies.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating how the image display varies in theelectronic zoom process. An area D1 not containing the optical axismoves to the center of the screen while gradually being enlarged (see anarea D2 in FIG. 13) and finally covers the entire screen of the displayunit 23. As described, even if an angle of view is set in an area notcontaining the optical axis, the electronic zoom enables zoom controllike that with an optical zoom.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the control of changing theimage to be displayed on a screen provided with the touch panel 24 tothe image on the area specified by a signal (first signal) input bymultiple touch performed on the touch panel 24 is started to a lens unitzoom operation signal (second signal). The second signal may be input byoperating a switch provided on a predetermined area of the touch panelor the body of the imaging device.

According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, anangle of view, to which the angle of view should be changed, is set inaccordance with points, on a touch panel, touched by an external object,and changing to the set angle of view is performed; therefore, a zoomoperation deviating from the set angle of view is not performed. Thus, asmooth zoom operation to a desired angle of view, a display, and imagecapturing can be realized.

According to the first embodiment, the user can specify an area to beenlarged only with touching by the user's finger(s) without additionaloperation such as moving the finger over the display unit. This allowsthe user to view the image on the display unit for a long time and thusfacilitate image capturing.

The present invention also makes it possible to set an angle of view bytouching only one finger to the touch panel 24. For example, asillustrated in FIG. 14, when a user touches a part of the face of asubject with the forefinger of the user's right hand, the angle-of-viewsetting unit 282 sets an area containing a predetermined size of theface, which is contained in the touched portion, without the face beingout of the screen. FIG. 15 is an example in which such an area is set.As illustrated in FIG. 15, according to the information on afinger-touched area P3 and information on the face of the subjectdetected by the face detector 281, the angle-of-view setting unit 282sets an angle of view (area D″) that contains the face, which contains afinger-touched portion P3, to a predetermined ratio. The area to bespecified on the touch panel should be specified so that the entire faceof the face image touched is not out of the display area. A frameindicating that the entire face specified on the touch panel is withinthe display area may be displayed.

In the present invention, a focus lens may be used for the lensoperation unit 34 instead of the zoom ring. Alternatively, as the lensoperation unit 34, two switches like switches 41 and 42 illustrated inFIG. 16 may be provided around the zoom lens 31. The two switches 41 and42 correspond to the two rotation directions of the zoom ring used forthe lens operation unit 34.

The present invention may be applied to zoom control in still imagecapturing.

In the present invention, an operation input unit provided on the bodyof the imaging device may receive the signal for starting change controlof angle of view.

The present invention can be applied to a display device having no imagecapturing function. Specifically, the present invention can be providedas a display device that includes a display unit that displays an imagecorresponding to image data; an angle-of-view setting unit that sets anangle of view to be changed for the image displayed on the display unitaccording to an external signal; and a control unit that starts controlof change to the angle of view set by the angle-of-view setting unitaccording to a signal different from the signal for setting the angle ofview.

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects isnot limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shownand described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventiveconcept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An imaging device comprising: an imaging unitthat receives light coming from a subject and thus generates electronicimage data; a display unit that displays an image corresponding to theimage data; an angle-of-view setting unit that sets an angle of view tobe changed for the image displayed by the display unit according to afirst signal input from the outside; and a control unit that startscontrol of change to a predetermined angle of view, set by theangle-of-view setting unit, according to a second signal different fromthe first signal and output from the outside, starts the change of angleof view to the predetermined angle of view set, according to the secondsignal, if the angle of view has been set by the angle of view settingunit according to the first signal, and changes the angle of view by anamount corresponding to the second signal if the angle of view had notbeen set by the angle-of-view setting unit according to the firstsignal.
 2. The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising:a lens for capturing an image of the subject; and a lens operation unitthat receives at least the second signal, wherein the imaging unitgenerates the image data using light focused by the lens.
 3. The imagingdevice according to claim 2, further comprising a touch panel that isprovided on an image screen of the display unit and receives the firstsignal as a signal corresponding to a position of the touch panel wherean external object touches.
 4. The imaging device according to claim 3,wherein the control unit performs change to the angle of view set by theangle-of-view setting unit with a longer time of image capturing than atime of image non-capturing.
 5. The imaging device according to claim 4,wherein the control unit performs change to the angle of view for imagecapturing at a constant speed and performs change to the angle of viewfor image non-capturing at a speed that decreases as a position of thelens becomes close to a set position.
 6. The imaging device according toclaim 5, wherein the control unit sequentially displays images accordingto the angle of view that changes over time.
 7. An imaging devicecapable of changing a combination of a lens unit and a body, the imagingdevice comprising: an imaging unit that is provided on the body andgenerates electronic image data from a subject image received throughthe lens unit; a display unit that is provided on the body and displaysan image corresponding to the image data; a touch panel that is providedon the display unit and that sets an area to be changed for the imagedisplayed by the display unit according to a first signal input from theoutside; and a control unit that starts control of change of an angle ofview to an area, specified on the touch panel, according to a secondsignal different from the first signal input through the touch panel andoutput from the outside, starts the change of angle of view to thepredetermined area set, according to the second signal, if the area hasbeen set by the touch panel according to the first signal, and changesthe angle of view by an amount corresponding to the second signal if thearea had not been set by the touch panel according to the first signal.8. The imaging device according to claim 7, further comprising a facedetecting unit that detects a face of a subject, wherein the area to bespecified on the touch panel is specified so that the entire face of aface image touched is not out of a display area.
 9. The imaging deviceaccording to claim 7, further comprising a face detecting unit thatdetects a face of a subject, wherein a frame indicating that the entireface of a face image touched is not out of a display area is displayed.10. The imaging device according to claim 7, wherein the lens unitincludes a lens operation unit that receives the second signal forstarting control of change to the angle of view.
 11. The imaging deviceaccording to claim 7, wherein the control unit changes, when performingthe control of change to the angle of view, the control at moving imagecapturing and before still image capturing.
 12. The imaging deviceaccording to claim 7, wherein the control of change to the angle of viewincludes selecting one of electronic zoom and optical zoom based onwhether a mode is to allow mechanical noise at zoom lens control andbased on a reduced image quality due to trimming effect of theelectronic zoom.
 13. A display device comprising: a display unit thatdisplays an image; an angle-of-view setting unit that sets an angle ofview corresponding to an area to be enlarged for an image displayed bythe display unit according to a first signal that is input from theoutside; and a control unit that starts control of enlargement to theangle of view, set by the angle-of-view setting unit, according to asecond signal different from the first signal and output from theoutside, starts the enlargement to the predetermined angle of view set,according to the second signal, if the angle of view has been set by theangle-of-view setting unit according to the first signal, and changesthe enlargement by an amount corresponding to the second signal if theangle of view had not been set by the angle-of-view setting unitaccording to the first signal.
 14. A control method comprising:generating electronic image data by receiving light coming from asubject; displaying an image corresponding to the image data; setting anangle of view to be changed for the displayed image according to a firstsignal that is input from the outside; starting control of change to theset angle of view according to a second signal different from the firstsignal and output from the outside; starting control of the change ofangle of view to the predetermined angle of view set, according to thesecond signal, if the angle of view has been set according to the firstsignal; and changing the angle of view by an amount corresponding to thesecond signal if the angle of view had not been set according to thefirst signal.
 15. The control method according to claim 14, wherein atime required for change to the set angle of view for image capturing isshorter than that for image non-capturing.
 16. A method for controllingarea change on a display screen, the method comprising: starting controlof changing an image to be displayed on a screen provided with a touchpanel to an image on an area, specified by a first signal input bymultiple touch performed on the touch panel, according to a secondsignal different from the first signal and output from the outside;starting control of the change of the image to be displayed to thepredetermined area set, according to the second signal, if the area hasbeen set according to the first signal; and changing the image to bedisplayed by an amount corresponding to the second signal if the areahad not been set according to the first signal.